This morning, we’re continuing our message series entitled, “Elevate – Rise Above.”  This world, fallen due to sin, is full of challenges for us.  Daily we face opposition of many different kinds and severities.  However, we never face them alone.  Jesus invites us to rise up above them.  He invites us to be seated with Him in Heavenly places.

Last week, we were challenged to rise up above the mud and mire of worldly things.  Especially in this election season, we were encouraged not to engage in the mudslinging going on, but to remember that nothing and no one can ever stop us from becoming who God calls us to be and to do what God calls us to do.  We are unstoppable no matter who our governing leaders are!

This week, we’re going to learn how to see beyond our circumstances to what God is doing through them.  We touched on this a bit last week about how we sort of exist as hybrids.  We’re here on the earth, but we’re also seated with Christ in Heaven.  We are both dying to self, but we’re raising to life in our spirit. 

We live upside-down, topsy-turvy, and a bit backwards from the way that we lived before we were saved.  We give that we might receive.  We bless when we are cursed.  We die that we might live.  We forgive even when vengeance is ours to give with justification to pour it out.  We love and honor even when we are given no reason to do so.

Why?  Because though we live in this world and face the same challenges of this world, we are able to rise above them.  We have something that those not yet saved does not – a living hope!  We are able to see beyond the here and we are equipped with the power to bring about change and to overcome our opposition.  There is no one like our God and nothing is too difficult nor impossible for Him!

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

We’re pressed, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, not abandoned, struck down, not destroyed.  Sure things are rough in this life and it seems that we’re always facing challenges and opposition, however, we’re living for so much more than the things of this world!  No matter what comes our way, we WIN!  We have the ultimate victory no matter what comes our way through Jesus!

This is an awesome quote that Paul wrote from David found in Psalm 116:10, “I believed, therefore I have spoken.”  Especially for any Mandalorian fans out there.   

What helps us to persevere in life is to be equipped to live by faith and not by sight alone.  We believe in the promises of God, therefore, we do not give up or lose heart.  We believe them so firmly that we can see them coming to pass!  We know that at just the right time, God will raise us up and fulfill His promises in our life.  Our mouths should be confessi